Even with his enormous celebrity, Shaquille O’Neal maintains his composure and behaves like a regular guy. Recently, O’Neal shared a picture of himself online with Academy Award–winning actress and “Black Panther” star Lupita Nyong’o, in which he appeared overjoyed to meet her.
The storied Los Angeles Lakers were among the many well-known attendees of last month’s Las Vegas Grand Prix. Among the celebrities who accompanied him were Brad Pritt, Gordon Ramsay, Rihanna, Terry Crews, Rod Stewart, Anthony Mackie, Steve Aoki, will.i.am, Usain Bolt, Simone Ashley, Liza Koshy, Kai Lenny, Kylie Minogue, Kaitlin Olson, and Rob McElhenney.
O’Neal recently shared a photo of himself standing tall next to Nyong’o on Instagram. The actor wrote, “I’m in awe.”
“Hell yes #OMG #WOW is my response to any question @lupitanyongo asks me,” O’Neal wrote on social media.
Shaquille O’Neal had already become intrigued by Lupita Nyong’o. O’Neal called her a “queen” in an episode of “The Big Podcast with Shaq” from the previous year, right before Will Smith’s Academy Awards ceremony slap on Chris Rock.
Nyong’o, who was seated next to Smith, warned Rock to “keep his wife’s name” to himself. The actress, who is of Kenyan and Mexican ancestry, gained popularity for her amusing reply to the joke.
Four-time NBA champion Shaq, along with co-hosts of his podcast, Anthony “Spice” Adams and Nischelle Turner, reacted to the video of the slap after spotting the “Black Panther” actor.
“Who’s the stunning girl behind Will in the chair?” O’Neal says. Do you mean the Black Panther girl?.. “She looked like a queen,” I thought.
Shaquille O’Neal and Martin Brundle had an awkward exchange at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
After he finished posing for photos with Red Bull Racing employees, Shaquille O’Neal was approached by F1 legend and Sky Sports reporter Martin Brundle.
I apologize for taking the time to come speak with us, sir. Hi, how are things going? Brundle then started talking.
O’Neal made a snappy comment, probably not knowing Brundle’s identity:
“Lewis Hamilton, young one.”
Martin Brundle decided not to take the whole thing seriously after their short but uncomfortable meeting, finding it amusing.
Brundle said, “That’s it, right there.” Say nothing further. That is all.Lewis Hamilton, my sweetheart… Honestly, isn’t it irrelevant? I’ve had a prosperous television career.
